Spinnerbait Bass Fishing Tips and Techniques
Spinner baits are the quintessential bass fishing lures because they are so easy to use and they catch a lot of bass. You only need white spinner baits but if you want to add a black one for extremely muddy waters then that is okay too. Just cast your spinner bait and reel it back at varying speeds until you find the speed that makes the bass bite the best and you have mastered the spinner bait lure for that particular day of bass fishing.
Bass are the most sought after game fish in North America for good reasons. They are super fun to catch; They live just about anywhere that there is fresh water; They are good to eat and they are numerous.
If I could only bring two types of lures on a bass fishing trip anywhere in the United States, then I would choose plastic worm and spinner baits. Those two lures have accounted for more than 90% of the bass that I have caught over the last 40 years fishing for bass.
I am a FISHING CHARTER CAPTAIN on the Treasure Coast of Florida and have fished all over the state of Florida for bass. If you don't have a spinner bait in your tackle box, then you are missing out on a lot of fun.
In the article below, I will teach you everything that I know about fishing for bass with spinner baits.
Spinner baits are one of my go to fishing bass lures for a whole bunch of reasons.
Spinner baits are the quintessential bass fishing lures because they are so easy to use and they catch a lot of bass. You only need white spinner baits but if you want to add a black one for extremely muddy waters then that is okay too. Just cast your spinner bait and reel it back at varying speeds until you find the speed that makes the bass bite the best and you have mastered the spinner bait lure for that particular day of bass fishing.
Bass are the most sought after game fish in North America for good reasons. They are super fun to catch; They live just about anywhere that there is fresh water; They are good to eat and they are numerous.
If I could only bring two types of lures on a bass fishing trip anywhere in the United States, then I would choose plastic worm and spinner baits. Those two lures have accounted for more than 90% of the bass that I have caught over the last 40 years fishing for bass.
I am a FISHING CHARTER CAPTAIN on the Treasure Coast of Florida and have fished all over the state of Florida for bass. If you don't have a spinner bait in your tackle box, then you are missing out on a lot of fun.
In the article below, I will teach you everything that I know about fishing for bass with spinner baits.
Spinner baits are one of my go to fishing bass lures for a whole bunch of reasons.
- They are easy to fish with.
- They consistently catch fish.
- They can be used in any season.
- They can be used in any water depth.
- They can be used in dirty or clear water.
- They can be used on sunny or cloudy days......
Watch the video below and catch more bass.
How many blades should my spinner bait have?
The number of blades depends upon where you are fishing. If you are fishing in cover, then you will want two blades because if one blade stops spinning your lure will still stay upright and probably won't get snagged. But if you are only using one blade in this scenario and the single blade stops spinning it will make the lure lean to the side and get snagged.
If you are fishing in open water a single blade will work just fine. You can also use a single blade spinner bait like a jig and pitch it to trees and just let it fall down the side of them.
Two blades will create more lift so they are better in shallower water. A single blade has less lift so you can stay deep easier with a single blade.
I wrote more articles on this website that cover in great detail how to catch bass during the different seasons of the year. You can read those articles by clicking on them below.
Winter Bass Fishing
Spring Bass Fishing
Summer Bass Fishing
Fall Bass Fishing
What kind of blades should my spinner bait have?
There are a few different types of blades out there but the two that I like are the willow leaf blade and the Colorado blade. The willow leaf is pointed on both ends and the Colorado blade is egg shaped.
Willow leaf blades can be worked faster and they retrieve better through the grass. Colorado blades can be worked slower and give you more flash. Many fishermen prefer a single large Colorado blade when they are fishing in deep cold water because you can use an extremely slow retrieve to get cold bass to eat.
Many fishermen like to have both blades on a lure to get the best of both worlds when using them. Try a few different blades and combinations to see what works best for you.
There are a few different types of blades out there but the two that I like are the willow leaf blade and the Colorado blade. The willow leaf is pointed on both ends and the Colorado blade is egg shaped.
Willow leaf blades can be worked faster and they retrieve better through the grass. Colorado blades can be worked slower and give you more flash. Many fishermen prefer a single large Colorado blade when they are fishing in deep cold water because you can use an extremely slow retrieve to get cold bass to eat.
Many fishermen like to have both blades on a lure to get the best of both worlds when using them. Try a few different blades and combinations to see what works best for you.
How heavy should my spinner bait be?
The weight of the spinner bait depends upon what depth of water that you are fishing in. I like to use very light spinner baits because I am often fishing in small ponds and canals in two feet or less of water. A smaller presentation works great for bass in this scenario because they are probably feeding on minnows and small bluegills.
I have seen spinner baits from 1/8 of an ounce all the way to 1 1/2 ounces. The right one for you depends on where your are fishing. If I was fishing down 10 feet or so in a lake or river, then I would go with something heavy like a one ounce spinner bait.
What color spinner bait is the best?
The best color depends upon whether the water is clean or dirty and whether it is sunny or cloudy. I'll go through my preferences first. I usually bring a white spinner bait and a blue spinner bait. The reason for this is because I am almost always fishing for bass in relatively clear water.
PRO TIP: Put your skirts on backwards to give the spinner bait more lift in the water column.
If the water is clear and it's sunny, then I will use the white. If the water is clear and it's cloudy, then I will use the blue. BUT that is what works for me down here in Florida. Where you are might be different so let's cover a few more scenarios.
If the water where you are is dirty and the sky is sunny, then I would recommend white or chartreuse.
If the water where you are is clear and the sky is cloudy, then I would use dark blue or chartreuse.
If the water where you are is dirty and the sky is cloudy, then I would use chartreuse.
If the water is very muddy, then I would use some vibrantly colored spinner baits or they won't get noticed at all. You will also want bigger blades to max out the vibrations emanating from your lures.
Watch the video below and catch more bass.
The best color depends upon whether the water is clean or dirty and whether it is sunny or cloudy. I'll go through my preferences first. I usually bring a white spinner bait and a blue spinner bait. The reason for this is because I am almost always fishing for bass in relatively clear water.
PRO TIP: Put your skirts on backwards to give the spinner bait more lift in the water column.
If the water is clear and it's sunny, then I will use the white. If the water is clear and it's cloudy, then I will use the blue. BUT that is what works for me down here in Florida. Where you are might be different so let's cover a few more scenarios.
If the water where you are is dirty and the sky is sunny, then I would recommend white or chartreuse.
If the water where you are is clear and the sky is cloudy, then I would use dark blue or chartreuse.
If the water where you are is dirty and the sky is cloudy, then I would use chartreuse.
If the water is very muddy, then I would use some vibrantly colored spinner baits or they won't get noticed at all. You will also want bigger blades to max out the vibrations emanating from your lures.
Watch the video below and catch more bass.
What season is best for using spinner baits?
You can use a spinner bait all year long if you want to. You will just have to adjust your retrieve speed depending upon the water temperatures. In the Winter you will want to reel your lures as slowly as you can. Retrieve it just fast enough to get the blades moving like a dying fish would look like.
When the water temperatures start to rise you can speed up your retrieves accordingly. The key to spinner bait fishing is keeping the lure running upright at all retrieval speeds.
Should I put a trailer hook on the spinner bait?
The quick answer for me is no. BUT I am almost always fishing around some sort of cover so I am trying to avoid getting snagged up. If you are in an open area that is free from snags, then by all means, add another hook if you want to.
Conclusion:
In my opinion, a spinner bait is one of the best baits that there is to catch a ton of bass. You just have to figure out the right type and colors that work best where you are fishing. Spinner baits allow you to cover a lot of water in a very short period of time. That is one of the reasons that I like them so much. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME FISHING DEAD ZONES.
I like to use spinner baits instead of crank baits. A spinner bait is an excellent choice if you don't like dealing with the treble hooks. I like single hook lures so that I don't harm the fish as much. Bring a couple of spinner baits with you on your next bass trip. I bet that you will start to love using them.
The quick answer for me is no. BUT I am almost always fishing around some sort of cover so I am trying to avoid getting snagged up. If you are in an open area that is free from snags, then by all means, add another hook if you want to.
Conclusion:
In my opinion, a spinner bait is one of the best baits that there is to catch a ton of bass. You just have to figure out the right type and colors that work best where you are fishing. Spinner baits allow you to cover a lot of water in a very short period of time. That is one of the reasons that I like them so much. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME FISHING DEAD ZONES.
I like to use spinner baits instead of crank baits. A spinner bait is an excellent choice if you don't like dealing with the treble hooks. I like single hook lures so that I don't harm the fish as much. Bring a couple of spinner baits with you on your next bass trip. I bet that you will start to love using them.